<a href="http://www.adidas.com/us/homepage.asp" target="_blank">Adidas</a> footwear first started their business with the goal of making highly specialized shoes optimized for every athlete. With this same design spirit, Aachen-based <a href="http://www.kadawittfeldarchitektur.de/" target="_blank">Kadawittarchitektur</a> designed and built Adidas' new research and development building on their sports campus in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Featuring a striped facade reminiscent of the company's iconic shoes, the 6-story building took inspiration from shoelaces and features sky bridges that connect office departments to one another. Energy-efficient design is complimented by daylighting, a green roof, and flexible office spaces, creating a building as high performance as Adidas' shoes.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

The building's striped volume is squished hollow rectangle that looks a bit like a skewed bow tie.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

Office space, or as they call them "office modules", are located on the outer ring and every work area has access to views and daylight.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

The center atrium is covered with lightweight ETFE cushions that flood the space with natural light.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

The 'laces' (catwalks or skybridges) cut across the space to connect different departments together, creating a shortcut compared to walking around the entire ring.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

These dare devilish walkways are not for those with aversions to heights, but we're sure they must make the work day a bit more entertaining and will likely enthrall parkour aficionados.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

Just like their high performing shoes, the new office building is all about high energy performance.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

An energy efficient HVAC system is achieved by streamlining the ducting system and placing only in the office modules, eliminating the need to condition the atrium space.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

29 geothermal wells reduce energy use through geothermal heating and cooling and result in a carbon saving of some 80 tons per year.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

A triple layer structural glazing system provides a high level of insulation as well as moisture-protection.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

On the roof, the areas not covered in ETFE are planted with native species of vegetation and landscaped to integrate it into the surroundings.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

Rainwater is also collected and channeled into a subterranean cistern for use in WCs and urinals year round.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

ny extra water is used to irrigate the surrounding grounds. Low-flow, no-touch fixtures further reduce water usage.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

All in all, the R&amp;D building over-fulfills the requirements of the German directive on energy saving (EnEV) by 38.8%.

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Adidas Laces-Kadawittfeld Architecktur

Adidas footwear first started their business with the goal of making highly specialized shoes optimized for every athlete. With this same design spirit, Aachen-based Kadawittarchitektur designed and built Adidas' new research and development building on their sports campus in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Featuring a striped facade reminiscent of the company's iconic shoes, the 6-story building took inspiration from shoelaces and features sky bridges that connect office departments to one another. Energy-efficient design is complimented by daylighting, a green roof, and flexible office spaces, creating a building as high performance as Adidas' shoes.